The Congo musician, Koffi Olamde who was quickly deported back after he was arrested following a video clip that surfaced online showing him kicking and assaulting a woman, a dancer, went viral online is reportedly to have apologized to the woman he harassed.
Congolese star Koffi Olomide called the incident a “moment of madness” and posted a statement to his Facebook page saying: “Once again I would like to apologize to my friends, brothers, sisters, fans and especially to the woman.”
He later appeared on a local television station in DR (Democratic Republic) Congo where he told an interviewer that he deeply regrets that moment.
“I deeply regret what happened. It was a moment of madness,” he told the interviewer.
Olomide has faced widespread condemnation and outrage since video of the incident which happened at Kenya’s Jomo Kenyatta International airport on Friday surfaced.
Kenyans on Twitter, popularly known as #KOT, immediately called for the arrest and deportation of the singer.Hours later, the Rhumba maestro was arrested and deported on Saturday morning and his Kenyan visa suspended, a government spokesman confirmed to CNN.
“He behaved in a manner contrary to what is expected of public figures and what we expect of our visitors. That should serve as an example to other people as well,” Kenyan interior ministry spokesman Mwenda Njoka. “He left us with no option, we cannot entertain gender-based violence and stare at it right in front of our eyes.”
Kenyans on social media have widely praised the deportation, with some congratulating the national police and the Ministry of Youth and Gender affairs on the move. Others called for Olomide to be prosecuted in the country.